VOTER MOBILIZATION - NYPIRG's non-partisan voter registration and participation work helps to empower students, reach out to the campus community, and sensitize politicians to public and student pressure. It is important that students' voices are heard in light of the recent attacks on public higher education. Last fall, NYPIRG registered more than 16,000 college students to vote. This spring, the voter mobilization project will continue to register students to vote, while also energizing students to turn out in droves to vote in the March 2 primary and the general election in November. The campaign will also work to ensure the polls are open and accessible to all citizens by monitoring the implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

HIGHER EDUCATION - NYPIRG has a long history of fighting for accessible, affordable quality higher education for all New Yorkers. The cost for public higher education in New York is one of the most expensive in the United States, and continues to increase. Funding for financial aid programs, opportunity programs and operating budgets is constantly under attack. This year is no different. Students working with NYPIRG's higher education campaign will battle a 1/3 cut to the Tuition Assistance Program, along with funding cuts to opportunity programs (eg: HEOP, EOP and SEEK), community college budgets and Bundy Aid.

MASS TRANSIT - NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign works to improve mass transit in New York City. The campaign has helped to bring about massive improvements in subway and bus service throughout the last 20 years, as well as the introduction of the Metrocard and free transfers between subways and buses. This semester, NYPIRG will continue to fight for safe, comfortable, reliable and affordable subway and buses by conducting a survey to rate the quality of announcements made in the trains and advocating for an increased investment in the transit system as the MTA passes its five-year capital program. Additionally, the campaign will lobby for state legislation to reform the MTA, which plagued by financial scandals throughout the past year.

HOMELESS/RELIEF PROJECT - NYPIRG provides critically needed assistance and supplies to shelters and homeless citizens through food, clothing and book drives; educates homeless citizens about their right to vote; and advocates for an increase in programs that support homeless families. Students who get involved with this project have the opportunity to volunteer at soup kitchens, conduct food, clothing and toy drives, and organize events to bring awareness of this important issue to the campus and community.

CLEAN AIR AND ENERGY - NYPIRG is a leader in working to solve some of New York's worst environmental problems. NYPIRG's Clean Air & Energy Campaign will continue to advocate for safe, reliable and clean energy solutions to mitigate increasing pollution from power plants. Weak emissions standards and poor planning have made power plants the largest industrial air polluter in New York and the nation. In New York State, NYPIRG will work to reform the review process for building power plants, cap global warming pollution, support green renewable energy and advocate for the closing of the Indian Point nuclear reactor. On the national level, NYPIRG will be working to stop the Bush Administration's attempts to weaken the Clean Air Act. Students who work on this campaign will have the opportunity to coordinate press conferences, contact elected officials and participate in the regulatory process.

THE BIGGER BETTER BOTTLE BILL - NYPIRG spearheaded the campaign that led to the passage of the five-cent bottle return law in 1982, a law that has increased recycling, curbed litter, conserved natural resources, and reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators. This semester, the campaign will advocate for the expansion of this law to include non-carbonated beverages, and also require that the beverage industry return unclaimed deposits to the state to fund local recycling and waste prevention programs; changes which could potentially generate an annual revenue of $192 million for New York State. Students working with this campaign will participate in activities to promote awareness about the issue, generate media coverage and out pressure on their elected officials.

CONSUMER ACTION - NYPIRG's Consumer Action Project teaches students to become active consumers and learn effective tools to take on consumer injustice and make a difference. This semester, students will have the opportunity to work on a number of issues to both protect consumers and save them money. The consumer action project will work to fight against excessive and exorbitant bank fees, monitor playground safety, educate students about predatory lending practices and work to create a cell phone users bill of rights. Students working with the project have the opportunity to conduct fun and interesting surveys, organize events and hold press conferences.

SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACTION CENTER - Just like TV's "People's Court," the Small Claims Court is an inexpensive, informal forum where New Yorkers can go to resolve typical consumer problems without the assistance or expense of an attorney. Students who participate in the Small Claims Court Action Center are trained as counselors to give procedural advice to help people with pre-filing assistance, preparation for the day in court, and collections. The student counselors advertise the program in the campus and community, and also have the opportunity to visit the local Small Claims Court and organized on-campus events.

BOOK EXCHANGE - Every semester, college students shell out hundreds of dollars to cover the cost of textbooks. To help students save money, NYPIRG operates a book exchange where students can buy and sell their textbooks online at www.nypirg.org/bx. Students who have books to sell simply fill out the online form. Students looking to buy books then contact the seller, and negotiate a price. When students buy from each other directly, as opposed to going through the bookstore, everyone gets a better deal.